Apex Court grants bail to former finance minister P.Chidambaram in INX Media corruption case
By: – Syed Ali Taher Abedi
New Delhi: The Apex Court on Tuesday granted bail to senior Congress leader and former finance minister P.Chidambaram in the IMX Media corruption case lodged by the CBI.
Mr. Chidambaram arrested by the CBI on August 21, had been in judicial custody in Delhi’s Tihar Jail until last week. When the CBI handed over to the Enforcement Directorate.
He was in Tihar jail for more than a month.
The Congress leader “can be released
If he is not required in any other case” the court said, adding that he will have to give a bond of Rs.One Lakh.
The INX Media Case pertains to the alleged irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board clearance to INX Media at the time when Chidambaram was the finance Minister.
It is alleged that Chidambaram along with his son P.Karti received illegal gratification from INX Media owners Peter and Indirani Mukherje.
While arguing for P.Chidambaram before the Supreme Court, Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhshek Manu Singhvi
Both objected to the findings of the High Court. Even though the findings with respect to the triple test for grant of bail were in favor of Chidambaram, the High Court had rejected his bail, it was argued.
A bench headed by Justice R. Banumathi set aside the Delhi High Court’s Sep 30 verdict denying bail to Chidambaram in the case. Chidambaram will make himself available for interrogation as and when required by the probe agency, said the Apex court.
The bench made it clear that Chidambaram will not leave the country without prior permission of the court.
The court also clarified that this bail order will not have any bearing in other pending cases against him.
The top curt also dismiised the CBI’s plea challenging the findings of the High Court which had said that Chidambaram was not a flight risk and cannot tamper with evidence.
The 74-year Senior Congress leade had approcached the apex court chaleenging the High Court Verdict.
Read The Judgment here
